ESCANER RETAINS TITLE, CONDES WINS TITLE

Philippine Super-bantamweight champion Alex Escaner retained his title by fighting to a split-draw with hard-hitting No. 3 contender Bernabe Concepcion over 12 rounds at the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta, Rizal, last night. The scores were 114-113 for Escaner, 115-111 for Concepcion, and 113-113 for both.

Concepcion started strong and dropped the defending champion with a hard left uppercut to the jaw for a mandatory 8-count in the 2nd round. The next rounds saw both fighters exchanging heavy blows in a give and take fashion to the head and body. In round 11, Escaner was awarded a knockdown in what appeared to be a slip to even up w ith his challenger. Referee Ferdie Estrella says Escaner landed a legitimate punch which made him rule Concepcion's fall as a knockdown. Both fighters fought furiously until the end to the delight of the crowd.

RP no. 2 mini-flyweight Florante Condes KO'd no. 3 contender Philip Parcon at 1' 44" of the 6th round over to win the PBF minimumweight championship. Condes also scored a knock down in the 4th round with hard blows to the face of Parcon.

In what was supposed to be the main attraction, RP light-flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro stopped overmatched Kengkart Sakpracha of Thailand midway in the first round with heavy blows to the breadbasket.

Other results:

Junior flyweight Danilo Lerio KO'd Roger Mananquil at 47 seconds in the 2nd round. Flyweight prospect Eden Sonsona scored a unanimous decision over Isidro Balatbat in their 8-round bout. The scores were 77-74, 77-74 and 77-72. Super-flyweight Jonathan Ba-at KO'd Roberto Lerio at 2' 47" in the 7th round also in their 8-round bout. Super-flyweight Conrado Nice was trailing Sandy Guarino after 3 rounds in their 4-round fight but got a unanimous decision win when he dropped his opponent for the mandatory 8-count in the final round. The scores were 38-37 thrice.